Leg One: BANGKOK - the land of smiles and buckets of alcohol !!

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Hi guys - hope you are all OK.

Well so far the trip has been fantastic and even though it's only day 4, I feel like I know Bangkok like the back of my hand!! It's an amazing city and Koh Sahn Road where I'm staying is buzzing with life 24 hours a day. The hostel is like a little oasis of calm in the middle of bedlem and the staff really go out of their way to make you feel at home which is lovely. So far, I've taken a trip to the Grand Palace, Wat Poh, the massage palour at Wat Poh (which is a must!) and the National Musuem. I've also met a whole host of people from holiday makers to hardcore travellers, some of whom are back in Bangkok for the 5th time!! I can see why though as it's got everything you could ask for and is sooooo unbelievably cheap too. A three course meal costs about two pound and a JD and coke is about 15p!!! I should watch out and it's going to be very easy to get fat and drunk on next to nothing!! I met a guy from Sweden last night who has been to Bankok many times before and he intoduced me to drink thats's very popular with the tourists over here. It consists of a bottle (!!) of Thai Whiskey, Coke and RedBull and comes delivered in a rather large bucket with straws. i probably dont need to tell you what sort of effect it has but it certainly gets the job done fast!!

I was very tempted to have a tattoo done last night (after too much alcohol) but then I gave it a bit more thought today and opted for a henna version which looks good but isn't permanent and only lasts for a few weeks - so dont panic Mum/Dad!! I considered having a small chinese symbol tatood on my ankle as that's pretty discrete but then I thought what the hell and had a picture of a sailor done over my arm, shoulder and back instead!! Weh Hey!!

I'm heading out tonight with the girl who runs the hostel which should be good as she can show me the best bars and clubs in town.

Once I work out how to add photos to this site, I'll put some on so you can see where I've been.


Love to you all and I promise to write soon.

PS. Mum/Dad, I was only kidding about the Sailor!! ha ha !!

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Photos

Ray, Finnon, Dick and Om
In the Lava club after one to many sang som whiskeys!!

Comments

[bianca]

eeeehhhhhh moppeeerrrr!!!
hello cheeky girl, Miss you loads alreday, sounds like you are having a great time though....I'm jealous! every one has been asking how you are and I've told them that you already met a bloke on the plane before you had arrived! they were very impressed, as was I. Im glad you were joking about the tatto! have you eaten dog yet? can' wait for the pictures to arrive. i want to mark the blokes out of 10. this message has taken me ages to write as i went out for a drink or two last night and i am a bit worse for wear this morning/afternoon! anyway keep us informed of your next ventures, cant wait to hear from you!!!! lots of love bi xx

[Lesley]

Crazy days & sleepless nights
Your Mum and Dad were here at the weekend and were sorting out my computer for me when they checked their e mail and up popped yours, so I thought I would check out my new found skills and write back to you, here's hoping. Sounds like you are having a fabulous time, what a good place to start your adventures, it brings back many happy nmemories. While you're there see if you can get to do the mini venice thing which I thought was wonderful all the gardens along the edge of the river bank are full nof half coconut shells in which they grow thousands of orchids, the women wash their children in the water, and all the market trading is done by boat, there are even ones with charcoals stoves on where they will sell you a hot meal! How they don't set fire to their boats is a mystery. If you can get to one of the temples there on a special service day, as long as you take a sari, you can make an offering to buddah and join in, the locals don't seem to mind atall and even gave us some of their own offerings so that we could join in. Glad to see you are making full use of the bargains out there, we of course didn't know how cheap everything was and bought our holiday gear before we went, which given the price of the stuff over there was a stupid thing to do. See if you can also get to see the flower markets, there is this one particular road where all the flower sellers go and as far as you can see the flowers are piled all along the roadside. When you go to Koh Sam hui (can't remember how you spell it) you must do the elephant trek through the jungle, just make sure your mahoot or whatever he's called doesn't disappear and leave you in full charge of an elephant when you've got no idea how to steer one! Well I haven't been anywhere elso so that's about the extent of my knowledge, no doubt you will run out of time to see everything 'cos there's just so much to see and do. By the way the sleepless nights is nothing to do with the maleria tablets it's just jet lag, 'cos you are nflying the other way round the world you get it when nyou arrive not when you get back like you do when travelling to america. It'll be a great help though when you fly onto new zealand though cos you are already half way there. You had me fooled, nand I think your mum and dad too about the sailor tattoo, I couldn't work out though whether you had actually had the descreet one done on your ankle? Thinking of you and hoping you're having a wonderful time, be careful (I know I sound like your Mum, but that's what Mum's do, give out needless bits of advice but feel better for having done so) hope this reaches you, love you Lesley xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Rachel]

Good start!
Hi babes, sounds like you are having a fab time. I bet you end up with a tattoo at some point, everyone I know has one after they have been travelling. Will post gossip after our courses this week as everything is abit mad getting ready for it. Loads of love Rachel x x x

[Claire]

The great Tattooed lady
Hellooo! Fantastic to hear from you and I am already sooo jealous of your adventures!! It sounds amazing in Bangkok and I told you you would have no problems in meeting people once you arrived, sounds like you've been busy making friends all over the place! Can't wait to see your photos - make sure you include one of the giant sailor tattoo - heehee! ;o) Things here have been relatively quiet in comparison to your week - I've been dashing about to job interviews and meetings with employment agencies, and I've been out a few times getting very drunk with my colleagues from the pub, but otherwise no excitement to report. Think I might just throw it all in and come and join you....now if I could just find some money from somewhere.....! Anyway won't rabbit on for too long as its Monday morning at work, and as much as I'd like to skive off and dream about Bangkok, I am already being nagged to get on with some work - ho hum! Take care and look forward to hearing your next installment! Claire xxxx (Kipper says hi too!)

[mum and dad]

the tatooed lady
hi sweetie its great your having lots of fun and that you're finding company to have fun with we're very envious and wish we could be there with you.are the clubs up to par and do they play house music?..looking foward to seeing the photos. i started my new job today - lots of hard work!!!i'm sure i will find time for lots of cuppas.nan send her love and said to tell you she found her ring ( hidden in a safe place apparently)looking foward to your next bit of news.love and miss you loads.mum and dadxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Harriet]

dark and dingy here
Hi Neg, Sounds fab...very jelous, especially as we turn clocks back this weekend - boo hoo. Back to that routine of getting up in the dark and coming home in the dark...what joy. Glad you have settled in and making the most of all things Thailand has to offer...make sure you take loads of pics, want the whole slide show and popcorn event when you get back. Take care...remember the monkey...xxx

[Cherlite]

Chico!!!!!
Hey, I'd forgotten Chico - how is the little fella? Enjoying himself? Notice he's not in any of the pictures yet..........! Cx

[Jaime G..]

Dull desks and work 'v' Bankok Banging!!
Hello Luvie! (NimsyPops!) Wow, it looks like you are having the coolest time! Im so glad you went in the end... I did have my doubts, but well done you!! I am so jealous!! The travel log is a great idea, so make sure you keep in touch all the time...it takes the agonising dull pain from work away for just a while, so keep it coming! :0) Its good to see the Funky Chicken Dance is still No. 1 in the Bangkok charts. Om seems to have it off to a T!! just kidding! So..., met any nice men yet? I have just had Anup and Seckington ask how you are and they also mentioned just how fit you were too!! The desk and office just isnt the same without you here anymore :0( Barney says hi and ah ted! Mark is off skivving again, so no comment from him Im afraid. Becks has the day off too... so its just me on my tod again really... dull, dull, dull..! And my wine headache from last night is kicking in too!! I feel a Eat Tuna and Cheese Melt coming on!!! I still dont talk to Darren really... the wrong end of the department, is still pretty much worng! hee hee!! Miss our singing days too.. its soooo quiet in here now. We must of been louder than we thought! I cant sing on my own, I'd look like a nutter!! I am off for an interview at Prime Brokerage tmrw.. Bit scared about the whole thing, but its worth a look. The scariest thing was telling G-man! Ah well, it's all done now... bye bye bonus!! Things are going well with Pauly! Well, its still pretty much a rollercaoster, but he has got better on the old housework front! Im not pullng my hair out anymore.. and the best thing is, his friends moaned about how much he pays me, so he is upping his money.. hee hee!!! hello, Gucci sales here I come!! Lucy is getting pretty big.. I cant believe how fast it is all happening!! I want a baby!! You wont be back in time for my Birthday drinks booo... although I know where I would rather be.. by the way, what part of the world will you be on Friday 25th Nov?? There is no more gossip for you really, oh just one bit... Your replacement is coming on Monday.. he is internal, but Im not allowed to say who yet... will let you know on Monday.. But put this way, Zzzzzzzzz. Im so cruel! Be careful with those henna tattoo's young lady! And doenst too much Whisky give you the squits!? hee hee!! Cant wait to read your next installment.. miss you loads, take care, JJ.. x By the way.. Are your friends talking about the little travelling monkey I bought you? Or is there a secret traitor in tow!! :0) Xxxxxx

[Harriet]

Pics
Love the piccys...keep them coming. xx

[Rachel]

Are you going to come back a hippy??
Hi babes, wow looks like you are having a ball... Am abit worried about you getting up at dawn to watch the sunrise!! (although it looked great)..you ve only been gone 2 weeks and youre getting in touch with mother earth!! Floaty skirts dont go well with tattoos you know. Bankok sounds like my kind of place, we should have sent you some sample bottles over then you could of collected local drink from every place you stopped at. Finished our first set of holiday courses which was really knackering, I spent most evening drunk on 2 glasses of wine due to no food stops during the day... It made up my mind that I want to spend time next year travelling...anything to get out of work eh? Well I studied the photos carefully and so far no sign of talent. Nicky says that there are no nice looking guys in London...so here is your mission....to find out where the hansome men live (so that we might visit there some time!)Photo evidence only which must be posted on your site for all of us to judge...Are you up for the challenge? Anyway offf to pack ...going to barcelona for few days so will log in at end of next week. Have fun and keep safe...love Rachel (BIG KISS X)